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While I focus on Technology, Innovation, and Publishing, because I have a platform, I also flag items that I think are important. I also try to include some resources & opportunities. Please let me know what you think.

Important Items

Trump, asked if he has to ‘uphold the Constitution,’ says, ‘I don’t know’

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-asked-uphold-constitution-says-dont-know-rcna204580

US AG to Rescind Projections for Journalists

US attorney general Pam Bondi said she is resuming the practice of attempting to seize reporters’ phone records

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/25/bondi-doj-garland-subpoena-journalists

DOGE Was Bad. Schedule F Will Be Worse.

An executive order will convert 50,000 government employees into de facto political appointees who serve only at the president’s pleasure

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/04/trump-civil-service-schedule-f/682609/

The USDA will not require poultry companies to limit salmonella bacteria in their raw products

https://www.foxla.com/news/usda-salmonella-levels-raw-poultry-usda-withdraws-plan

At least 96 people turned away from NH town meeting polls due to new state voting law

Reegan DePasquale had just moved to Hampton. On March 11, she attempted a rite of passage: participation in town meeting. But after arriving at Winnacunnet High School after work, DePasquale hit a hurdle. As a new resident of NH, DePasquale was required to produce documentary evidence of her citizenship, part of the requirements of a state voting law that passed last year. She needed her birth certificate, and, because her married name does not match her birth certificate, a copy of her marriage certificate, too.

https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2025/03/26/at-least-96-people-turned-away-from-town-meeting-polls-due-to-new-state-voting-law-group-says/

Since Jan., 12 states considered bills that would punish abortion patients as murderers—that could mean the death penalty.

We’ve seen laws that ban even talking to a teenager about abortion, In Missouri, Republicans wanted a ‘registry’ of pregnant women.

https://jessica.substack.com/p/its-a-long-fightlets-go-big-on-abortion

Temu abandons Chinese imports to US as tariffs force overhaul

https://www.ft.com/content/d36b6be9-dc75-4d55-b9e3-1ec151252dd4

Innovation

Earth AI’s algorithms found critical minerals in places everyone else ignored

Earth AI is able to identify deposits of critical minerals (copper, cobalt, gold, molybdenum etc) using AI algorithms to quickly search for mineral deposits over wide areas.

https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/25/earth-ais-algorithms-found-critical-minerals-in-places-everyone-else-ignored/

Technology

A Judge Says Meta’s AI Copyright Case Is About ‘the Next Taylor Swift’

Meta’s contentious AI copyright battle is heating up—and the court may be close to a ruling.

https://www.wired.com/story/meta-lawsuit-copyright-hearing-artificial-intelligence/

Are ChatGPT-written children’s books an easy side hustle?

HT @publishingtrend Creating content like children’s books using ChatGPT is pretty straightforward, but making money off of it is an entirely different beast,

https://www.newsnationnow.com/business/tech/ai/chatgpt-writter-childrens-books-side-hustle/

Agatha Christie Comes to Life in AI-Enhanced BBC Maestro Writing Course

HT @publishingtrend

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/agatha-christie-writing-course-ai-bbc-maestro-1236204003/

Beyond the Deals: Unpacking the AI Revolution in Media

HT @BoSacks The Unseen Impacts, Ethical Quandaries, Human Costs, and the Next Chapter For Media and Journalism in an AI-Driven World.

https://creativelicensinginternational.com/licensing-brief/beyond-the-deals-unpacking-the-ai-revolution-in-media/

The Magazine Coalition Is Working On Changing AI Companies From Content Shoplifters to Content Shoppers

HT @BoSacks

https://mrmagazine.me/2025/04/26/michael-simon-and-the-magazine-coalition-are-working-on-changing-ai-companies-from-content-shoplifters-to-content-shoppers-the-mr-magazine-interview/

What is the Intention Economy?

It’s a digital marketplace for commodified signals of intent. Companies will learn what users think about and what motivates them, thru their interactions w AI, and be able to predict their intent in any given situation

https://www.fastcompany.com/91263596/what-is-intention-economy-ai-companion-manipulating-ratting-you-out-advertising-chatbot

Humanoid robots run a Chinese half-marathon alongside flesh-and-blood competitors

ICYMI

https://apnews.com/article/china-robot-half-marathon-153c6823bd628625106ed26267874d21

Bloomberg says generative AI guardrails can fail — here’s why

Conventional wisdom says RAG inherently makes AI systems safer. However, when using RAG, models that typically refuse harmful queries in standard settings often produce unsafe responses.

https://venturebeat.com/ai/does-rag-make-llms-less-safe-bloomberg-research-reveals-hidden-dangers/

The Winners and Losers of Google’s Big Cookie Reversal

HT @benedictevans If Google didn’t own Chrome, how would it manage privacy? We don’t really know what privacy means in an LLM era, but this week Google finally gave up on “Privacy Sandbox,” its attempt to kill third-party cookies and use the browser to do anonymous targeting instead. People have been arguing about this for ages, since it probably would be good for privacy, but would also have given more control of the adtech stack to Google. Now it’s gone, and cookie banners will be eternal.

https://www.adweek.com/media/the-winners-and-losers-of-googles-big-cookie-reversal/

3 Ways Meta Is Going After Retail Media Budgets

HT @benedictevans Amazon sold $56bn of ads last year, and Google and Meta want to help other retailers join in the ‘Retail Media’ boom – here, AdWeek breaks down Meta’s plans.

https://www.adweek.com/commerce/3-ways-meta-is-going-after-retail-media-budgets/

Publishing & Media

Google Dominates Podcasting with YouTube

Podcasts aren’t just going visual; they’re becoming television. And YouTube is the network where it’s all happening

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/ezra-klein-youtube-dan-abrams-mediaite-new-york-times

Spotify Pays Over $100 Million to Podcasters

Spotify, which aims to dent YouTube’s podcasting lead, said it has paid more than $100 million to podcasters since January

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/28/business/dealbook/spotify-100-million-paid-creators-podcast-video.html?unlocked_article_code=1.DU8.8WRj.Y8hn_VNXh8ks&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

For Media, News is Becoming Toxic

News organizations that were once seen as crown jewels in their owners’ portfolios are increasingly viewed as liabilities.

https://www.economist.com/business/2025/05/01/for-media-companies-news-is-becoming-a-toxic-asset

When Authors Strike Out On Their Own, What Does This Mean For Publishing?

HT @publishingtrend Marketing and the reaching of consumers, no matter who you are, is ultimately up to the author.

https://thedispatch.com/article/book-publishing-authors-readers-novels-press/

Vox Media Sells Game Site Polygon to Valnet

Vox Media announced it is selling its gaming and entertainment site Polygon to Canadian digital media company Valnet

https://www.axios.com/2025/05/01/vox-media-polygon-sells

Forecast: Media Usage Poised to Drop in 2025

This year is expected to deliver the first drop in consumer usage across traditional and digital media since the Great Recession in 2009.

https://www.marketingdive.com/news/media-usage-dip-in-2025-heres-what-the-numbers-say/746296/

It’s Not About the Books

As Book Riot’s Kelly Jensen reminds us, “books are an easy, on-the-ground, tangible target” that far-right groups have used as a thin end of the wedge in their pursuit of suppressing representations of and information about race and LGBTQ+ issues.

https://bookriot.com/operation-caged-bird/

SIGN THE PETITION: Stand Against Trump’s Budget Proposal to Defund IMLS

Via @EveryLibrary

https://action.everylibrary.org/budget2026imls

Resources & Opportunities

WMG New Members Social

FREE. WMG Members Only. 5/12 6-7pm ET via zoom.

https://womensmediagroup.org/event-6166530

Taste, Talk, and Connect: A Special Night at Tsion Cafe in Harlem

Join us for a memorable evening of networking, culture, and cuisine at Tsion Cafe, the popular Harlem restaurant of chef and author Beejhy Barhany. In celebration of her new cookbook, Gursha: Timeless Recipes for Modern Kitchens, from Ethiopia, Israel, Harlem, and Beyond, Beejhy invites WMG members and friends to experience the flavors and traditions of Ethiopian and Israeli cuisine. She will be joined by literary agent Sally Ekus, Knopf senior editor Tom Pold, and writer and cookbook collaborator Elisa Ung for a discussion about bringing this unique cookbook to life.

Guests will enjoy:

A plant-based buffet dinner featuring dishes inspired by Gursha
A signature cocktail crafted from a recipe in the book
A panel discussion on the making of Gursha with Beejhy Barhany, Sally Ekus, Tom Pold, and moderator Elisa Ung
A traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony led by Beejhy Barhany
Dessert, book sales, and a signing with the author

This is a great opportunity to connect with fellow food lovers, gain insight into cookbook publishing, and learn about the culture and traditions of the Ethiopian Jewish community. All are welcome!

5/15 6-8pm ET at Tsion Cafe in Harlem. $45 for WMG members; $55 for non-members

https://www.womensmediagroup.org/event-6140428

Celebrating AANHPI Storytellers!

Hear Authors:

Katie Kitamura (Audition)
Megha Majumdar (A Burning)
Hyeseung Song (Docile)
Qian Julie Wang (Beautiful Country)

5/21 5:30-7:30pm, NYC, $15 @WMG_NYC members, $20 nonmembers.

-> READERS OF MY NEWSLETTER: Come at the member price of $15: Pick Partner Organization and use code CELEBRATE <-

https://womensmediagroup.org/event-6154518

AALA Launches People of Publishing Conference

The Association of American Literary Agents has announced People of Publishing, a one-day conference to be held at the New York Academy of Medicine on Sept. 17 that aims to bring together literary agents, editors, and other publishing professionals.

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/newsbrief/index.html?record=5339

What I Wish I’d Known Before Publishing

Monday, May 12, 2025 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT. Free

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GNBE-JijScaFxSn4tXuQpQ?t=1746404583345#/registration

Query Letter Writing for Fiction Authors

Seminar 6/21 1-2:30pm ET, Workshop 7/12 1-4pm ET

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/query-letter-writing-for-fiction-authors-tickets-1312233950069

Frankfurt Fellowship Network

Apply for the Frankfurt Fellowship Network (through 16 May) for access to presentations, tours, matchmaking events, and networking opportunities in Frankfurt and Zürich, and at Frankfurter Buchmesse.

https://www.buchmesse.de/en/fellowship-and-grant-programmes/fellowship-network

The Next Big Story Prize

Via @thenovelry Submit 3 pages—the beginning of a work of fiction, the first 1,500 words of what could become a page-turning book. Eight shortlisted entries, chosen by our judges, will win The Finished Novel Course from The Novelry. One winner will take home $100,000.

https://www.thenovelry.com/prize

Lee & Low’s New Voices Award

Given biennially to an unpublished writer of color or Native/Indigenous writer for a picture book manuscript. FICTION, NON-FICTION, or POETRY for children ages 5 to 12. Deadline 6/30.

https://www.leeandlow.com/authors-illustrators/writing-contests/new-voices-award/

DWA Press Submissions

MT @marcelalandres DWA Press, the publishing imprint of the Dominican Writers Association, seeks original pieces including but not limited to poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction. They welcome work in English, Spanish, or Spanglish. @DomWriters

https://dominicanwriters.submittable.com/submit

Kozik Environmental Justice Reporting Grants

Deadline 5/27.

https://nationalpress.org/awards/environmental-justice-grants/

Girls Write Now Collaboratory

MT @girlswritenow There’s still time to get paired with another writer for mentorship in the Girls Write Now Collaboratory this Summer! Apply by May 16!

https://girlswritenow.org/journeys/

AWM Foundation & Hallmark Media Make Her Mark Student Scholarship

https://allwomeninmedia.org/the-alliance-for-women-in-media-foundation-and-hallmark-medias-make-her-mark-announce-new-student-scholarship/

The Power Breakthrough Webinar

Feeling stuck, undervalued, or uncertain about your next career move? Have a big idea and don’t know where to start? Discover the #1 mindset shift that’s helping women everywhere shatter self-doubt and lead with confidence.

Free 5/8 3:30pm ET from Take the Lead Women

https://courses.taketheleadwomen.com/thepowerbreakthroughwebinar

Talks for Better Living with Sharon Salzberg

Transforming the World from the Inside Out: Meditation as a Tool for Developing Courage and Compassion. Boston Public Library free talk 5/6 6-7p ET online.

https://bpl.bibliocommons.com/events/67dc4d8aeeecc81b3317b5b4

MAS Enduring Culture Initiative Call for Community Partners

Do you have a community-engaged preservation project based in NYC? The MAS Enduring Culture Initiative has a Call for Community Partners! Deadline 5/18. Virtual Info Session 5/9

https://www.mas.org/initiatives/enduring-culture/

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